The Goleta Union School District has its origins in the consolidation in 1925 of the first three small elementary schools in the Goleta Valley, Cathedral Oaks, La Patera, and Goleta, known earlier as Rafaela School.

Until 1957, the District operated one school, Goleta Union, on Hollister Avenue. The school is now the site of the Goleta Valley Community Center. From 1957 to 1969, the District built twelve new schools in response to the explosion in population as housing tracts rapidly replaced orchards in the valley.

In 1975, in 1978, and in 1982, the District closed a total of five schools as it faced declining enrollment. Two of the schools later reopened, in 1996 and 1999, when enrollment began to grow moderately.

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1869
Rafaela School is established. It is named after Rafaela Ortega Hill, wife a land-grant don of the Goleta Valley. Students are nicknamed "The Clodhoppers." Frank E. Kellogg is the teacher from 1887 to 1897.
1875
Rafaela School is built near the southwest corner of the intersection of Patterson Avenue and Hollister Avenue.
1877
Cathedral Oaks School is established and built at 4974 Cathedral Oaks Road. Rose Everett is the first teacher. The students are the "Punkin Rollers."
1877
La Patera School is established and is built west of Fairview Avenue and north of the Cinema Theater. The students are the "Webfoots."
1881
A new building for La Patera School is built west of Fairview near the site of the current Goleta Library. It is dubbed "The Hump-Floored School" because the weight of the upstairs teacher's quarters causes the foundation to settle.
1883
"Two-Story School" replaces Rafaela School at 177 South Patterson Avenue. The four lower grades are downstairs; the four upper grades are upstairs. A $1,000 bond issue enables the building project.
1895
La Patera School is moved to Stow Ranch on La Patera Lane, north of the present railroad. The school bell is brought from San Francisco in 1897. It is moved to Goleta Union School in 1927 and to the present La Patera School in 1965.
1909
Rafaela School name is changed to Goleta School by popular petition.
1911
Goleta School is built to replace "Two-Story School," which is deemed a firetrap.The new school is a one-story building with arched entrance and bell tower. The building is eventually moved in 1928 to the rear of the current Goleta Union site on Hollister Avenue. It serves as a kindergarten and First Grade building until it is demolished in 1957.
1925
Goleta Union School. Voters overwhelmingly approve the consolidation of Goleta School, La Patera School, and Cathedral Oaks School. Enrollment is 190. Trustees approve the construction of a new school and to ask voters to approve an $80,000 bond issue for new construction.
1927
Goleta Union School opens at 5679 Hollister Avenue. The school has eight classrooms, and an auditorium with theater stage. The cost is $65,000 for the building and $22,500 for the land. George Locey is the principal.
1928
Hal D. Caywood is named principal of Goleta Union School.
1929
Ellwood Union School is formed and incorporates Den School and Tecolote School. A new school is built at 7686 Hollister Avenue, site of the current Ellwood School. The Goleta Union School District eventually annexes Ellwood Union School in 1966.
1946
Dr. Ian Crow is named principal of Goleta Union School. Dr. Crow serves as principal and later as superintendent until his retirement in 1972. He oversees the construction of twelve new schools from 1957 to 1969 as the population of Goleta Valley explodes and the orchards are replaced by housing tracts. In photo below, Hal Caywood (l.) and Ian Crow (r.)
1957
Cathedral Oaks School opens on Turnpike Road. Edward Zuzalek is named principal. The school remains open until 1978 when trustees respond to declining enrollment. The building is eventually sold to Santa Barbara City College, is now known as the Wake Center, and used as an adult education center.
1959
Isla Vista School opens on El Colegio Road. Joseph Albon is named principal. The school is demolished in 1998 and a new school is built on the same site in 1999.
1961
Fairview School opens on North Fairview Avenue. James Roberts is named principal. The school remains open until 1978. It currently houses the district offices.
1962
Hollister School opens on Anita Lane, south of Hollister Avenue. Charles Metcalf is named principal. This is the first of a series of five schools built with seven rectangular concrete block buildings and eighteen classrooms.
1963
Kellogg School opens on Cambridge Drive, south of Cathedral Oaks Road between Patterson and Fairview Avenues. Wayne Pelton is named principal.
1963
La Patera School opens on La Patera Lane, south of Cathedral Oaks Road. David Weaver is named principal.
1964
Foothill School opens on Ribera Drive, south of Cathedral Oaks Road and west of Turnpike Road. Robert Pearce is named principal. District enrollment reaches 4,800 students.
1965
El Camino School opens on San Simeon Drive, north of Hollister Avenue, west of Turnpike Road. Earle Carter is named principal. The school is closed in 1982 and reopens in 1999.
1966
Ellwood School is annexed. Marie Alumbaugh is the principal.
1966
Mountain View School opens on Queen Ann Lane, north of Cathedral Oaks Road and west of Patterson Avenue. Edward Zuzalek is the principal. This is the first of two hexagonal "pod" schools.
1968
El Rancho School opens on Mirano Drive, south of Cathedral Oaks and west of Glen Annie Road. William Oliver is named principal.
1969
Brandon School opens as the District's thirteenth school, on Brandon Drive, south of Cathedral Oaks Road and west of Glen Annie Road. The school is eventually closed in 1982 because of declining enrollment. It is reopened as a full school in 1996. District enrollment reaches 6,575 students.
1972
District enrollment peaks at 6,827 students.
1972
Dr. Robert Welling is named superintendent.
1974
Dr. William Paulo is named superintendent.
1975
Goleta Union School is closed. District enrollment has fallen to 6,153 students. The school does not meet earthquake safety requirements. The building is sold to the County of Santa Barbara and becomes the Goleta Valley Community Center. Below: Hal Caywood (l) and Ian Crow (r) with Isabella Waugh and Mrs. Chester Rich in front of Goleta Union School.
1976 Dr. Peter B. FitzGerald is named superintendent.
1978
Fairview and Cathedral Oaks Schools are closed. District enrollment has declined to 5,063 and falls to 4,583 in the fall.
1978
Frank M. Shultz is named superintendent.
1982
Brandon and El Camino Schools are closed. District enrollment declines to 3,718.
1985
District enrollment bottoms out at 3,413.
1987
Dr. Richard B. Shelton is named superintendent.
1996
Brandon School reopens. District enrollment has climbed back to 4,392.Voters approve a $26 million bond issue.
1999
El Camino School reopens. Enrollment peaks at 4,515.
1999
Isla Vista School inaugurates new building.
2000
Ida Rickborn is named superintendent.
2001
District enrollment declines again to 4,331 students.
2002 District enrollment declines to 4,110. El Rancho School is closed as of 2003-2004 school year.
2005 Dr. Kathleen Boomer is named superintendent.